"We are working hard to get it back," Campion said. "The weather is working hard against us.

"I was pushing to reopen this weekend. That definitely won't happen."

A fire at 1 a.m. on Jan. 29 scorched three of the 30 dealer bays located at the flea market, 1560 Bulgarmarsh Road, just east of Bliss Corners.

The fire damaged the bay where it started, the restrooms at the site as well as two neighboring bays, one with furniture, one with jewelry and home goods.

One firefighter was treated for smoke inhalation, but there were no serious injuries reported.

A day after the fire, workers were at the site, tearing out burned walls and ceiling tiles and helping dealers carry out burned goods.

Three trash containers were filled in the first two days and then carted away.

Diane Cardona of Fall River was at the site a few days after the fire, sorting through boxes of costume jewelry her sister, Tracy Paiva, offered for sale at the market. She picked up a necklace of amber colored beads. The beads fell back onto the table when the string broke. She collected the beads and dropped them into a plastic bucket.

"This is all the stuff that has to go," she said. "We have to go through it all.

"But my sister likes it here. She likes her neighbors and says it is something to do on a Sunday. She will be back."

Fire investigators determined a space heater left working during the night set fire to material around it, starting the flames that spread across the ceiling before the fire was captured and killed.

"The fire department, Tiverton and all the other departments that joined in, they did a great job," Campion said. "They really limited the damage."

Campion said work would continue at the site. His family has run the flea market for 40 years, making it one of the oldest in New England, he said.

"We are doing all we can to get open again," he said.

"The latest would be by the end of the month, but we are hoping for earlier than that."

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.